Need BF'ing help!

Reese doesn't want to latch on. Sometimes he will for a few minutes, then hes had enough. We've had him taking a bottle for 3 weeks now and my milk supply has SIGNIFICANTLY decreased. I'm pumping, but only getting 1 oz every 3-4 hours, but he eats 3 oz every 3 hours, so the stock pile I had is now gone and he's getting formula.

Can anyone give me any tips for the latching issues? He gets so frustrated, so I get frustrated. I'm soooo worried about my milk supply as well...I really want him to get the breast milk for the first 6 months AT LEAST, but I'm not producing enough :'(

Advice? Tips? Encouragement?

Reese doesn't want to latch on. Sometimes he will for a few minutes, then hes had enough. We've had him taking a bottle for 3 weeks now and my milk supply has SIGNIFICANTLY decreased. I'm pumping, but only getting 1 oz every 3-4 hours, but he eats 3 oz every 3 hours, so the stock pile I had is now gone and he's getting formula.

Can anyone give me any tips for the latching issues? He gets so frustrated, so I get frustrated. I'm soooo worried about my milk supply as well...I really want him to get the breast milk for the first 6 months AT LEAST, but I'm not producing enough :'(

Don't give up! I had a hard time this last week - I was frustrated and crying a lot and so was he! I finally got into a lactation consultant and she was so awesome - in just 2 hours she changed our reality, my way of thinking about the whole thing and really helped us both relax which has helped us be more successful. I think I was doing several things wrong before ( but did not know any better - plus each baby is different so it is hard to know what is right for yours). I was focused on pumping to increase my milk supply and pumping every 2 hours so when I would try to feed him there was not much left and he would get frustrated, then I would. He would latch but then get off and shake his head and get angry. Scream and turn red!

The Lactation consultant showed me different techniques to get him to latch better - how to hold my breasts and support him and my breast (they are large and fall down so I have to be careful when we latch) I give him pressure at the back to come forward - I dont push his head in toward the boob, which was making him so mad before! I watch where my fingers are on his cheeks so I dont give him the wrong signal. Here is the link to her store and some good info on breast feeding that helped me. http://www.awomanswork.com/perfectLatch.php

I would suggest finding a consultant by searcing the internet, or better yet word of mouth if you know anyone in your area that may have used one. Yes it can be very challenging but it can have great rewarding moments as well. Remember that the first month is the learnig period and it will get better, quicker and easier so hang in there please! I am so glad I made it through last week and feel much better now :) You can messAGE me anytime you need support :)

Don't give up! I had a hard time this last week - I was frustrated and crying a lot and so was he! I finally got into a lactation consultant and she was so awesome - in just 2 hours she changed our reality, my way of thinking about the whole thing and really helped us both relax which has helped us be more successful. I think I was doing several things wrong before ( but did not know any better - plus each baby is different so it is hard to know what is right for yours). I was focused on pumping to increase my milk supply and pumping every 2 hours so when I would try to feed him there was not much left and he would get frustrated, then I would. He would latch but then get off and shake his head and get angry. Scream and turn red!

The Lactation consultant showed me different techniques to get him to latch better - how to hold my breasts and support him and my breast (they are large and fall down so I have to be careful when we latch) I give him pressure at the back to come forward - I dont push his head in toward the boob, which was making him so mad before! I watch where my fingers are on his cheeks so I dont give him the wrong signal. Here is the link to her store and some good info on breast feeding that helped me. http://www.awomanswork.com/perfectLatch.php

I would suggest finding a consultant by searcing the internet, or better yet word of mouth if you know anyone in your area that may have used one. Yes it can be very challenging but it can have great rewarding moments as well. Remember that the first month is the learnig period and it will get better, quicker and easier so hang in there please! I am so glad I made it through last week and feel much better now :) You can messAGE me anytime you need support :)

Hi there! I have been nursing for 8 months and am just browsing the boards. We had the exact same problem in the beginning. I went to see a LC and she said to absolutely stop giving bottles. She recommended finger feeding which worked in just one day! I couldn't believe it. Also, i had to make my nipple flat and shove it in his mouth while bringing his head in. Oh it was a pain but it is the best thing ever. As for the supply, remember you make more than you can pump and if you can pump 1 oz then you def have at least 3 in there. being your baby is still young, it will be easy for you to get it back. Stick it out and don't give up!

Hi there! I have been nursing for 8 months and am just browsing the boards. We had the exact same problem in the beginning. I went to see a LC and she said to absolutely stop giving bottles. She recommended finger feeding which worked in just one day! I couldn't believe it. Also, i had to make my nipple flat and shove it in his mouth while bringing his head in. Oh it was a pain but it is the best thing ever. As for the supply, remember you make more than you can pump and if you can pump 1 oz then you def have at least 3 in there. being your baby is still young, it will be easy for you to get it back. Stick it out and don't give up!

I have no advice for latching issues...but if you're exclusively pumping, you should increase the frequency. To increase supply you should pump every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the day. If that is impossible for you, you should pump AT LEAST every time he eats, so don't wait the 4 hours to pump. Your breast need to be empty to produce milk, so even if you're only getting a small amount, but keeping your breasts empty, it will promote more milk production. I know it will be hard, but try to keep your breasts empty!!

I have no advice for latching issues...but if you're exclusively pumping, you should increase the frequency. To increase supply you should pump every 1 1/2 to 2 hours during the day. If that is impossible for you, you should pump AT LEAST every time he eats, so don't wait the 4 hours to pump. Your breast need to be empty to produce milk, so even if you're only getting a small amount, but keeping your breasts empty, it will promote more milk production. I know it will be hard, but try to keep your breasts empty!!

I am using a nipple shield made by medela and available @ Target it sticks out unlike my nipples and it is so supper easy to get Addison to latch on. I have only been able to get her to latch onto me 2-3 times in the past week. Plus since the nipple shield is kinda like the nipple of a bottle I think it has decreased the chances of nipple confusion as I am also pumping and giving her bottles when we are away from home.

I am using a nipple shield made by medela and available @ Target it sticks out unlike my nipples and it is so supper easy to get Addison to latch on. I have only been able to get her to latch onto me 2-3 times in the past week. Plus since the nipple shield is kinda like the nipple of a bottle I think it has decreased the chances of nipple confusion as I am also pumping and giving her bottles when we are away from home.

Cameron has never once latched on to me so I went and seen a lactation consultant and she worked wonders! He still wont latch on without a nipple sheild but he definietly has the hang of breastfeeding. I was about to give up and I called the WIC office and seen a consultant there. I would definietly recommend one. Good luck

Cameron has never once latched on to me so I went and seen a lactation consultant and she worked wonders! He still wont latch on without a nipple sheild but he definietly has the hang of breastfeeding. I was about to give up and I called the WIC office and seen a consultant there. I would definietly recommend one. Good luck

i had to see a lactation consultant mulitple times because it got so frustrating in the beginning. i have flat nipples but i've never tried the shield. the last consultant worked wonders for us because she showed me how to be assertive with her. because of the way my nipples are i have to be really thorough about where i place my hands. my thumb is on top and four fingers on the bottom, making sure i push the areola back and expose as much of the nipple as possible. i also have to get her worked up (pissed off is a better word) so that she opens her mouth really wide. and i have to hold her hands tight against my body so they can't get in the way. as far as her head i make sure i have a really firm grip and my fingers aren't on her cheeks because that will make her root in that direction. oh and i practically shove her mouth into my boob when she finally opens wide enough. this has to happen quickly before she closes it. the biggest thing that helped me was being firm with her. i was so afraid of breaking her that i had no control and she was moving all over the place. once i was firm with her we started doing really well.

we're definitely doing alot better and once we do latch she's on good. but sometimes it can be really frustrating and i want to reach for a bottle.

i wish the best of luck to you. :) bfing is def way harder than i ever could have imagined!

i had to see a lactation consultant mulitple times because it got so frustrating in the beginning. i have flat nipples but i've never tried the shield. the last consultant worked wonders for us because she showed me how to be assertive with her. because of the way my nipples are i have to be really thorough about where i place my hands. my thumb is on top and four fingers on the bottom, making sure i push the areola back and expose as much of the nipple as possible. i also have to get her worked up (pissed off is a better word) so that she opens her mouth really wide. and i have to hold her hands tight against my body so they can't get in the way. as far as her head i make sure i have a really firm grip and my fingers aren't on her cheeks because that will make her root in that direction. oh and i practically shove her mouth into my boob when she finally opens wide enough. this has to happen quickly before she closes it. the biggest thing that helped me was being firm with her. i was so afraid of breaking her that i had no control and she was moving all over the place. once i was firm with her we started doing really well.

we're definitely doing alot better and once we do latch she's on good. but sometimes it can be really frustrating and i want to reach for a bottle.

i wish the best of luck to you. :) bfing is def way harder than i ever could have imagined!

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